Honolulu FBI nabs alleged Waikiki welfare cheat

A 66-year-old Waikiki man who allegedly swindled government programs ranging from welfare to student tuition assistance of a total of more than $200,000 was arrested, Honolulu FBI agents announced.

Agents arrested Vaughn G. Sherwood Thursday for theft of government property and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to a news release issued by the FBI's Honolulu office. The arrest resulted from a joint investigation that included the FBI and Hawaii's Department of Human Services Investigations.

According to the criminal complaint, Sherwood allegedly duped government programs by receiving benefits under stolen identities and his own identity while failing to disclose significant assets to program administrators. Sherwood allegedly received welfare cash, Section 8 housing, food stamps, and federal student tuition assistance tallying more than $200,000.

In addition, FBI agents executing a search warrant of Sherwood's Waikiki condominium Thursday morning allegedly recovered two rifles and four handguns that Sherwood was not permitted to possess.

The maximum penalties for theft charge and firearms offense is 10 years in federal prison for each crime. Sherwood will be detained at a federal detention center in advance of a detention hearing, which is now set for Tuesday.

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wondermn1wrote:

Good start now how about the other 20,000 that are cheating on welfare, section 8 etc. etc. etc.
Stand in any line at a grocery and watch them pay with ETB CARD and then climb into a SUV Escalade
by Cadillac

on October 17,2013 | 05:58PM

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RetiredWorkingwrote:

wonder, that's all these low income peeps have to show. Escalade is heavily financed.

on October 17,2013 | 06:48PM

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nodaddynotthebeltwrote:

What gets me is that we subsidize all these people driving Escalade while many cannot even afford to buy or finance a car. And they are paying for these people's Escalades. What also bothers me is that people in public housing can afford digital cable. There should be a law enacted that states that if you purchase digital cable, you will no longer be subsidized by the people. Ownership of an Escalade should put you out of public assistance. If you think about it, yes, it is heavily financed but should someone on a public dole be allowed to purchase on tax dollars, any luxury car? It is just simply wrong. When I read that KPT residents had digital cable I was outraged. Many, cannot even afford cable and these folks are able to subscribe to digital cable. If they can afford such luxuries, they can afford to pay for their own way. Anyone on public assistance should be banned from digital cable and all companies should be required to check the potential subscriber if he is on welfare. Anyone with welfare should be denied this luxury. Same with luxury cars. Many of us live in shabby apartments but pay for it on our own dime. But we continue to work hard knowing that we are doing the right thing. Did you know that there is a public subsidized housing in Waikiki? You are paying for that and these people get to live in a better place than many of us who work hard just to pay the rent. That housing unit should be put up for sale or used to bring in revenue.

on October 18,2013 | 10:19AM

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Slowwrote:

I think this was one individual. He is not typical of the poor. 20,00 welfare cheats driving Escalades? I have to say that you are a flat-out liar. But it's fun calling the less fortunate names, yeah?

on October 18,2013 | 08:41AM

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hawaiikonewrote:

Only the tip of an immense iceburg.

on October 17,2013 | 08:22PM

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soundofreasonwrote:

Strong agree. And it needs to go a little further. If my kid keeps coming to me for money month after month, you can BET I'm going to has a say so in HOW he spends that money. JUST last night, I was at McDonalds and there was a guy in there with his wife. HE was in a DOUBLE-wide wheel chair (so ...."disabled"......no job), too BIG to get into the ordering line so she did their ordering. What she ordered came to $18.96 for the two of them. To be fair though, that price DID include the large frappe drink - topped with whip cream and a cherry. So, we can see where HIS decisions got him - Isn't it about time WE stop paying for them (disability $) when he's STILL making irresponsible decisions?

on October 18,2013 | 07:19AM

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Slowwrote:

No it is not that time. In fact your idea is absurd. Maybe we could hire food police every store and restaurant. Can I please have a complete list of all your food purchases, Mr. Perfecto? What's your point? Punish the handicapped and poor? I once ran the marathon. So do I deser better heakth care than some one who didn't? Like you perhaps, soundy?

on October 18,2013 | 08:46AM

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soundofreasonwrote:

You deserve the health care when YOU can start acting like YOU care for your health instead of eating things you shouldn't while waiting for everybody ELSE to pay your medical bills for doing so.

on October 18,2013 | 06:55PM

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NanakuliBosswrote:

Another. Mainland H, living in Waikiki and cheating our gov. He is why the FBI gets involved. Children need to be fed.

on October 17,2013 | 08:47PM

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Skylerwrote:

Pardon me, but your prejudice is showing.

on October 18,2013 | 08:27AM

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nitpikkerwrote:

sorry brah but you know get plenny locals that rather buy beer than feed their kids.

on October 18,2013 | 08:34AM

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krushawrote:

They need to throw the book at this guy as an example for others that crime does not pay in the end. You catch one guy, but dozens more are probably getting away with it, sort of like when you find a cockroach crawling around in your house.

on October 18,2013 | 06:37AM

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Carang_da_buggahzwrote:

Unfortunately, judging by this guy's criminal history, NO ONE has ever seen fit to make this guy pay a price that is commensurate with his crimes. The so-called "justice" system, sentences people to probation instead, leaving them free to commit more crimes because they are unafraid of a system that places little value, if any, on punishment and deterrence. Hundreds and hundreds of these parasites of society have proven that over and over again. In short, the system is a JOKE. There is little accountability to be found in our bleeding-heart system. Is it any wonder that the average criminal scoffs at the notion of actually paying for his/her crimes?

on October 18,2013 | 12:26PM

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HD36wrote:

At a time when the nation must constantly borrow more money to operate, it's clear the solution to all our problems is not more government programs.

on October 18,2013 | 06:49AM

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Slowwrote:

The biggest and most active military on the planet just might be a bigger problem than one pathetic two-bit crook. He is not bankrupting the U.S. Some believe iti s our manifest destiny to run the world. That is a MUCH bigger problem.

on October 18,2013 | 08:49AM

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cojefwrote:

Yeah, perhaps it's better to be a "banana republic" than world leader. I's the good life, lay back and just relax, instead always tense and sabre-rattling like we have been doing since replacing "Hail Britanica" who was the world leader.

on October 18,2013 | 08:58AM

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frontmanwrote:

Hey, in Hawaii what he did is a job classification. You will find many more out there if they look.

on October 18,2013 | 08:58AM

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NuuanuMamawrote:

And it is going to cost us more to prosecute and incarcerate this guy! I hope his assets can be sold to reimburse the money he stole and cover the cost of his trial and jail time.

on October 18,2013 | 09:39AM

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hilopangowrote:

Yes. If that bird is his, it's an Eclectus parrot, worth a few thousand $$. I feel sorry for the bird.

on October 18,2013 | 12:26PM

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Carang_da_buggahzwrote:

Obama so loved the poor, he's creating MILLIONS more. All on YOUR dime. The government can't print those EBT cards fast enough. And, be prepared to pay the ObamaCare subsidies for more of these people. The Cadillac dealers are rejoicing!

on October 18,2013 | 12:19PM

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ellowrote:

dude is 66 years old, that 200K must be recent... wonder how much he's gotten away with over his lifetime? he probably has a shady accountant partner that should get tracked down, connect the dots and nab a whole network of long-running welfare thieves.